Multiple-disk friction coupler



II I l \7 NQV- 9* 3948- R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,453,237

MULTIPLE DISK FRICTION COUPLER Filed Aug. s, 194s j :ma

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Patented Nov. 9, 1948 MULTIPLE-DISK FRICTION COUPLER' Robert G. Le Tourneau,

B. G. Le Tourneau,

poration of Californi Peoria, Inc., Stockton, Calif., a cor- Ill., asslgnor to Application August 6, 1946, Serial No. 688,672 4 Claims. (Cl. 18s-152) This invention relates in general to an improved friction coupler.

The invention is directed particularly to, and it ls an object to provide a disc type friction for use as a brake, although suited for use as a clutch. The invention is herein described as employed as a wheel brake for vehicles.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel brake, as above, which is fluid-pressure actuated. preferably` by air; the brake being normally spring released, but arranged to be engaged through the medium of an operator controlled Huid-pressure actuated diaphragm unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wheel brake which comprises, in combination with a pair of concentric relatively rotatable'drums, a series of cooperating friction discs' disposed in axially shiftable face to face relation between the drums and alternately spiined to different ones of the latter, a stop beyond one end of the series of'discs, and a fluidpressure actuated diaphragm unit mounted be vond the otherv end of the series of discs and including a diaphragm operated brake control ring' forcefully movable toward said series of discs whereby to clamp the same into close frictional contact to produce'a braking action between said drums.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a wheel brake, as in the preceding paragraph, which includes perforate connectors between the diaphragm operated, brake control ring and the adjacent brake disc of said series, whereby to minimize heat transfer between the discs and the diaphragm unit.

' It is also an object to provide a wheel brake which is simple but rugged in construction; practical and smooth operating in use; and requiresonly a minimum of maintenance or repair. 4These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as'will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. The ilgure of the drawings is a cross section of the brake as embodied in connection with a vehicle wheel.

Referring now more particularly tothe characters of reference on the drawing, the brake comprises an outer drum i and an inner drum 2 disposed in radially spaced, concentric relation; said drums being relatively rotatably mounted in the manner which will hereinafter appear, and wherein the inner drum 2 is fixed against rotation.

- tion in said channel.

. adapted to connect with the port A series of annular friction discs are axially slidably disposed between the inner and outer drums I and 2, and such series comprises, in alternate relation, metal discs 3 and iiber discs 4. Multiple spline connections 5'couple the metal discs 3 at their inner edges to the inner drum 2, while multiple spline connections 6 couple the ber discs 4 at their outer edges to the outer drum i; whereby the metal discs 3 are non-ro-v tatable relative to the inner drum 2, and the ber discs 4 are non-rotatable relative to the outerdrum i. By this arrangement discs 3 and 4 remain axially shiftable relative to each other and to the drums.

At one end the inner drum 2 is formed with a neck i having exterior threads, and on which neck an adjustable stop ring 8 is threaded; said ring being peripherally split at one point and including a locking bolt 9 by means of which the ring il may be secured on the neck 'i against undesirable release or rotation. The ring bears against the adjacent endmost one of the metal discs .'i and thus serves as a stop for the latter.

At the end opposite the stop ring 8, the device includes an end ring i0 fixed in connection with the inner drum 2 by means of an integral radial flange H on the latter; the end ring I0 and ange il being secured together by a circumferential row of cap screws i2. On the face adjacent the series of discs 3 and the end ring it! is formed with a relatively shallow annular channel i3 of substantialwidth, and a iiexible annular diaphragm it of material such as fabric reinforced neoprene is seated in matching rela- At its edges the diaphragm i4 is formed with beads I5. The outer bead .l5

is clamped between a collar i6 and the adjacenty portion of the end ring i0, while the inner bead i5 is clamped between the ange il and the adjacent portion of said end ring` A port l1 opens through the end ring I0 into the pressure chamber formed between said end ring and the diaphragm I4. An operator-controlled fluid pressure system (not shown) is i] whereby fluid pressure, preferably air pressure, may be delivered, as desired, through the port l1 into the aforesaid pressure chamber.

A control ring I 8 complementary to the channel i3 normally seats in the latter against the exterior of the diaphragm I4, and radially spaced perforate connectors I9 are xedly connected between the control ring I8 and the adjacent metal disc 3. By reason of these perforate connectors heat exchange between the series of discs 3 and 4 and the described diaphragm arrangement is means disposed to act on said series of discs fromA minimized. v the other end whereby to clamp the discs into The inner drum 2 is formed with a plurality close frictional contact; said last named means of sockets 20 therein parallel to the drum axis comprising an end ring disposed beyond said and opening from said drum at the end adjacent 5 other end of the series of discs and fixed in conthe end ring I0. Loaded compression springs 2| nection with one drum, an annular diaphragm are seated in said sockets and bear against the sealed in cooperative pressure `chamber forming control ring I8, whereby to normally maintain relation with the face of the end ring adjacent the letter. and the diaphragm fully seated in the seid series of discs. means adapted to feed fluid channel I3. pressure into the chamber, an axially movable In the present embodiment the above described control ring bearing against the diaphragm on brake is incorporated in a vehicle wheel as folthe side adjacent said series of discs, and means lows: i

The numeral 22 indicates a vehicle wheel havthe adjacent disc, there being a plurality of ing a wheel rim 23 and rim flanges 2l: the wheel 15 sockets formed in said one drum and opening t0- being detachably secured by bolts 25 to a hub ward the'end ring, and compression springs in 26 journaled on a spindle 21 by means of a bearthe sockets bearing against the control rinsing 28. Inwardly of the bearing 2l the spindle 2. Afriction coupler comprising en Outer drum 21 is carried in a fixed non-rotatable housing 2l. and an inner drum surrounding each other in The housing 2s includes a fixed annular flange 20 spaced relation end being mounted for relative 30 which projects radially outwardly, and the end rotation. a Series of annuler frietiondises. elterring I0 is secured concentrically to the flange 30 .nate discs being Splined to the outer and inner by means of the bolts I2 which are of a length l drums, respectively, and all the discs being simulto extend therethrough. taneously shiftable axially, stop means at the end This disposes the inner drum 2 in surrounding 25 of one drum interposed in the path ofv the dises and concentric but clearance relation to the iolmit their movement in one directie e lil?- housing 29. The outer vdrum l is fixed to the draulic motorvmounted at the opposite end of said inner edge portion of the wheel rim 23, as for one drum, such motor including a pressure Opel'- example by welding, as shown. In this manner ated control ring mounted co-axially with the the outer drum l, together with the aber discs 30 discs. the inner periphery of the ring proieetins 4, rotates with the wheel 22, while the inner drum. radially inward of the oirole defined by the outer together with the metal discs '3, remain stationary Crumfelen 0f Said One drum. Yieldable ineens with the nxed housing 29. acting against the inner face of the said project-AY The brake is normally released by reason of ing portion of the ring to urge the ring in a directlle springs 2l urging the contml'ring I8 to its 35 tion away from thediscs, means to apply pressure fully seated position in channel I3. However, against the outer face of the ring to force it in a when duid pressure is introduced through the direction toward the discs. andconnector means port I1 the diaphragm fiexes or expands in a dibetween the inner face of the ring and the discsV rection toward the series of discs 3 and I, adacting to force the discs together as the ring vancing the control ring I8 in the same direction. 40 moves toward the discs.

This movement of the control ring, as imparted 3. A friction coupler Comprising an outer drum through the connectors I9, clamps the discs 3 and and an inner drum surrounding each other in 4 in close frictional contact, whereby relative rospaced relation and being mounted for relative tation therebetween is effectively resisted. prorotation, a series of annular friction discs, alterducing a braking action which imparts itself to 45 nate discs being splined to the outer and inner the wheel 22. e Y drums, respectively and all the discs being simul- In order to prevent access of foreign matter taneously shiftable axially, stop means at the into the brake assembly, particularly to thediscs end of one druminterposed in the path of the 3 and 4, a flange 3 I is formed on the free end discs to limit their movement in one direction, of the outer drum I and closely overhangs the a hydraulic motor mounted at the opposite end periphery of the end'ring I6. Y of said one drum, such motor including a pres- Frorn the foregoing description it will be readsure operated control ring mounted co-axially ily seen that there has .been produced such a dewith the discs, yieldeble means acting against vice as substan ially fullls the objects of the the inner face of the ring to urge it in a direction invention as set forth herein. A l 55 away from'the discs, means to apply pressure to While this specification sets forth'in detail the the outer face of the ring to force it in a direction present and preferred construction of the device, toward the discs and a connector `element directly still in practice such deviations from such deconnected to the ring and to the adjacent disc. tail may be resorted to as do not form a departure 4. A combination as in claim 3' in which the from the spirit-of the invention, as dened by 69 connector element is perforated to provide inthe appended claims. sulating air gaps.

Having thus described the invention, the fol- ROBERT G.LE TOURNEAU. lowing is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired: REFERENCES CITED 1- A friction Coupler comprising an Outer drum 65 The following references are of record in the surrounding an inner drum in spaced concentric me of this patent: relation, the drums being mounted for relative rotation, a series of annular friction discs dis- UNITED STATES PATENTS posed in face to face relation between the drums, Number Name Date means axially shiftably but relatively non-rotat- 70 1,433,491 Strong om 24 1922 ably connecting alternate discs to the inner and 2,014,530 @B1-1er, germ 17', 1935 outer drums respectively, a stop at one end of 2,353,417 Lambert, Jan, 30, 1945 the series of discs, and fluid pressure actuated connecting the control ring in rigid relation to 

